By Ishemunyoro Chingwere
HARARE – With the league seemingly out of reach, the Chibuku Super Cup presents Caps United with a more realistic chance to end the season with some silverware as demanded by new majority shareholder Farai Jere.
The Green Machine, seventh in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League and nine points behind pacesetters Chicken Inn, face a struggling ZPC Kariba in a first round tie at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.
Caps coach Mark Mathe acknowledged Jere had every right to demand silverware.
“The team has to win something recognisable,” he said.
“If you go back in history, you will realise at some stage Caps United were cup kings and our fans yearn for that title to be restored back on us. It is very important that we win this cup, but having said that, we won’t be putting ourselves under pressure.
“We will just take it game by game and for now our only worry is ZPC.”
As he dreams of a safe passage into the quarter-finals, Mathe knows he has a tricky challenge before him. The mid-season signings made by the electricians and the coming on board of Sunday Chidzambwa are a source of bother for the Caps United mentor.
“ZPC are quite a formidable side regardless of their current troubles in the league. In Chidzambwa they have a legend who knows the terrain very well and the players they have added like Limited (Chikafa) and (Thomas) Sweswe, are very experienced guys who can cause problems,” he said.
Makepekepe will be keen to know if veteran striker Leonard Tsipa, who has been struggling with a groin injury, will pass a late fitness test; while Oscar Machapa could be unavailable after spending most of the week in the DRC, where he is trying to secure a move to AS Vita.
Chidzambwa has not tasted a win since returning to the local scene in June and the coach must be a worried man despite outward appearances of being calm.
“I admit we are definitely out of running for the league. But the desire to win every match we compete in has not died,” he said.
“There is nothing amiss in our failure to win since I took over. It’s normal in football that a new coach comes in with new strategies and it takes time for the players to start thriving in the new system. However, I know one day it will be fine with us” said Chidzambwa.
Fixtures
Triangle v Tsholotsho (Gibbo), How Mine v Highlanders (Barbourfields), Caps v ZPC Kariba (Rufaro). All matches start at 3pm. The Sunday Mail
